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Transformation Garden - February 8, 2016

2016Feb 08

COMMENTS

February 8

Today’s Text and Thought of Encouragement:

“Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with my victorious right hand of rightness and justice.”

“Lift up your eyes and see Him, your living, present Christ, and give Him your hand of faith and love. Draw every breath in His fellowship, take every step as He leads you, meet every assault of the tempter from behind His grace as your shield. Write His name on every duty, and it will change into precious privilege. Let every cross rest partly on His shoulders, and you will forget that it is a cross. Bring all the little tasks and responsibilities of each day to Him, and you and He do them together, and the way that has seemed, perhaps, a rugged one, will be smooth to your feet.”

Abbott E. Kittredge

Today’s Study Text:

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

Psalm 90:14

New International Version

“(She) is rich who is satisfied.”

Thomas Fuller

EXPLORATION

Consequence #2: “A Satisfied Frame-of-Mind.”

“All the human satisfaction of the cravings of body and soul have one defect; they do not satisfy forever.”

Fulton Sheen

“Satisfied” – To fulfill your needs and desires. To dispel any doubts or obligations.

How do I define the word satisfaction?

“We can never be fully satisfied but in God.”

Tryon Edwards

INSPIRATION:

“For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

Psalm 107:9
KJV

Living in Arizona much of my life, I try to wear a brave face in the summer, pretending the occasional 120 degree heat doesn’t bother me.

However, one thing I’ve noticed, the older I’ve grown, the less tolerant I seem to be on days when the thermometer registers about 110 degrees. One thing is certain, during the summer, it is an absolute requirement to carry water with you. Period. Many times, the first thing offered when you go to a business meeting is a bottle of water. For when your throat is dry and your lips are parched, nothing quenches your thirst like a glass of fresh, cold water. On a hot day – cold water defines satisfaction.

Our desire for clear, cool water isn’t the only thirst we have. Throughout history, and repeatedly in Scripture, the example of thirsting after God is illustrated in many descriptive ways. In Psalm 42:1, (K.J.V.) David portrays this beautiful word picture: “As the hart pants and longs for water brooks, so I pant and long for you, O God.” The prophet Isaiah describes God’s care for us when He says God leads us “by springs of water” (Isaiah 49:10, King James Version). To the woman at the well, Jesus offered to quench her thirst with “living water” (John 4:14, King James Version).

This longing in our hearts to be satisfied by the presence of God, call it a thirst after God, is something which has created great interest in me for a long time. I believe, and this is from personal experience alone, that when each of us was created by God, He planted a seed in our hearts – call it a Heavenly magnet – that draws us toward our Father. St. Augustine wrote about this same idea when he said, “We are made for God and will be dissatisfied until we have God in our hearts … our heart cannot be quieted until it finds repose in God.”

This may be why Jesus, in giving the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5, assures us that when we “hunger and thirst after God,” we will be satisfied.

It is my prayer that the words of this commentary lead you to the One person who can and will give you a “Lifetime Satisfaction Guaranteed!” The “One” person who will satisfy your thirst for Him.

“Blessed are You Who Hunger and Thirst”

“We are hungry with a hunger that is deep inside.
We are hungry with a hunger that won’t be silent.

We are hungry for something whose name is
everything virtuous
everything noble
everything true.

We are hungry for all that matters
for all that is lasting
for all this is right.

We are hungry for
broken bread
and answered prayers
and kept promises.

We are so hungry
cried the people.
Blessed are you if you are aware
of so deep a hunger
for God will surely feed you.”

“Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.”

Psalm 145:16
King James Version

AFFIRMATION

“I thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast so set eternity within my heart that no earthly thing can ever satisfy me wholly.”

John Baillie

“For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

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